Breaking down and destroying strongholds
1. First— Before anything else. First and foremost! Prayers, Supplications, Intercessions and Giving of Thanks to God. First thing in the morning, and once again at the beginning of every undertaking. Since none can be unbound from the Prince of Darkness without prayer, it is our duty to pray, intercede, to plead. Yes, plead!
2. Second—To PLEAD-urge reasons for or against; to attempt to persuade one by argument or supplication; as, to plead for the life of a criminal; to plead in his favor; to plead with a judge or with a father. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!‖ Job 16:21
Recently we were in a small prayer group, and one of the suppliants used the word –Plead– in supplicating the throne of grace for a sick individual amounst us. When the prayer was finished one in the group said. ―We are NOT BEGGERS!! WE TELL GOD WHAT WE WANT! WE DO NOT PLEAD OR BEG GOD!― This attitude is one of extreme pride. Yes, we are to come boldly before the throne of grace with our petitions and requests, but with all humility. The Bible is very clear that there is not one earthly potentate higher than God. He will bring down the high, and the mighty.
Jer.13:18 ―Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.‖
The PROUD shall be abased! Therefore we are to: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.‖ James. 4:10
And be submissive to our elders– those older than us, and also to godly men in leadership roles. This shows that we fear God. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:‖1Peter.5:5,6
This however does not mean that when a leader teaches error we must submit and believe it. No, our first and highest loyalty is to God and His truth.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary: PLEAD, v.t. To discuss, defend and attempt to maintain by arguments or reasons offered to the tribunal or person who has the power of determining; as, to plead a cause before a court or jury. In this sense, argue is more generally used by lawyers.
To allege and offer in a legal plea or defense, or for repelling a demand in law; as, to plead usury; to plead a statute of limitations.
In Scripture, to plead the cause of the righteous, as God, is to avenge or vindicate them against enemies, or to redress their grievances. Isa 51.
Remember: There are legal ramifications in the Spiritual warfare, just as in the court case. This is why we must use the weapons of our warfare– but that is the subject of another chapter. Our third point here is:
3. To supplicate with earnestness. On one occasion a small band of Salvation Army workers wrote to General Booth decrying their ineffectiveness in winning souls and asking what they should do. He sent back a two-word message. “TRY TEARS”. This is a Biblical principle.
Biblical Examples:
Our First Example is that of Moses:
Exodus 32:30-33 ―And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
The Second Example- Job:
Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their (His Children) feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.